The nationís capital will get a taste of Hawai`i during the Smithsonian Folk life Festival, which begins today and runs through July 8. The University of Hawai`i is sending an 80- member delegation that includes Hawai`i Community Collegeís
25-member halau Unukupukupu led by kumu hula Taupouri Tangaro. The h&#257;lau will perform twice a day on the National Mall during the two-week festival, which is expected to attract about 1.5 million visitors. Tangaro hopes the exposure will
change some perceptions of the hula.

ďIf they walk away realizing that hula is not entertainment more than it is a process for transformation, Iíll be satisfied,Ē Tangaro said .

The performers will be doing pele lava dances, temple dances and numbers not commonly seen at a l&#363;`au or the Merrie Monarch Festival. The University of Hawai`i exhibits will also feature traditional Hawaiian health and healing practices, a mini taro
patch, non-instrument navigation, medicinal herb and organic farming and much more. Content for this story was provided by the University of Hawai`i Office of Media Production